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Storming to Day 2: A Loser's Report.

My decision of what to play at GP: Providence was fairly simple. If you have a Japanese foil deck, play it. My car was Adam Barnello (Nightmare), Alex Artese (Munkie), and myself. We left early Friday morning for our trip to Providence. We talked about music, women, and nerd shit, who would’ve guessed?

We eventually arrived at the nerd center, first person we see is Chuck (CDR) and shortly after we find out we can’t use any of the Source items how lame. I walked a couple tables over and there were the artists. I had my four Japanese Foil Duress along with my Japanese Foil Deathmarks signed, along with my Japanese Foil Slithermuse, Italian Foil Terastodon, and some smaller things (Everyone from Syracuse knows my love for this card). While waiting in line I noticed a Grozoth painting, my initial thought was “fuck yes!”, then “FUCK”. I literally have a binder full of Grozoth from a deal with Zach Tartell, that I could’ve had the artist sign. He wasn’t on the list of artists attending the GP…

I hit the dealer booths to look for Japanese Foil Xantid Swarms but have zero luck, unfortunate. I end up selling half of my junk binder and get some cards I was looking to get for my three EDH decks as well as a few legacy cards. By the end of the weekend I cut down my foil list from 17 to 7, I think I did pretty well.

I end up getting dinner with Jon Quackenbush and a couple other people from the Albany area, we decide to stop at Union Station Brewery and get food there. It was fantastic, their “Brewberry” wheat beer and Buffalo Chicken pizza were amazing.

GP: Providence begins… right before the event I decide to cut the Metdown in the board for a third Pyroblast.

Game Two: I have the win on my turn three after shuffling and drawing a Rite of Flame off of a ponder, but I draw Tendrils for my turn and can’t become Hellbent for Infernal and die to cat scratches.

Game Three: I mulligan and my opponent tells me he hopes I mulligan to three, I’m thinking two things, “ I hope this guy chokes” and “What a fucking doushebag”. I refuse to mulligan down to five against Zoo, my hand is Petal, Lion’s Eye Diamond, Infernal Tutor, Rite of Flame, Brainstorm, Petal. I Petal, Brainstorm into two fetchlands and a Chant. I cantrip again during my next turn a few times, my opponent slams and I mean slams his choke. Both of my lands are tapped. I guess I lose to Zoo, and need to win out. (Spoilers: I do)

3-2

Round Six: Trenton Bollinger with Burn

Game One: If there’s one thing I learned about this kid is he fucking loves Phyrexian Probe. He put himself down to 14 between probes and fetches. I combo out and grab Tendrils for 14.

We get deck checked, I tell the judge not to lose my deck, it’s worth more than most cars. Meanwhile, I make small talk with my opponent. Then notice I’m sitting down nexr to a guy wearing all Phillies clothes. I start talking shit to him being a Mets fan, it was good fun. Judge comes back and tells me how impressive my deck is, I’m well aware.

Game One: I play turn one Xantid, It get’s misstepped. He plays Island, Cursecatcher, I play a bunch of spells and mana, and ETW for 14, one gets countered. 12 Goblins in play.

Game Two: I play a turn one Ponder, turn two, putting back land and a Wipeaway, then 10 goblins. Swing, he plays some dudes, swing, I draw and start laughing forgetting I put Wipeaway on top when he has a Bob with a Jitte on it. Wipeaway his Jitte and swing for lethal.

7-2

That’s the end of day one. Adam Barnello and I made day two out of our car, we end up going out in downtown Providence to celebrate. The Waterfire and nightlife was pretty pretty ridiculous, we had drinks and ate on the river. We all ended that night saying, “I want to live here”.

Starting day two at 9am, we arrive, fill out the paper work and begin the event.

Round Ten: Joseph Schmidt with Blue Mud

Game One: I play a turn one Duress leaving him with a bunch of things he can’t cast because I took his monolith. I next turn ETW for 12 and Chantwalk twice.

Game Two: He plays turn one City of Traitors, Monolith, Key, Trinisphere, next turn Metalworker combo and shows me the staff.

Game Three: I open with Duress and take trinisphere leaving him with big dudes again. I have a turn two win, except he draws Chalice and plays it at one to shut down half of my hand. I lose to dudes shortly after.

Adding the third Pyroblast was a mistake, I never wanted to board it in, Meltdown would've won me this round.
7-3

Round Eleven: Eugene Ho with Merfolk

Game One: He beats me down with cursecatchers down to thirteen, plays a mutavault, and a corelhelm. passes. I attempt to go off, he stops me, levels up, vials in lord, it’s lethal.

Game Three: I cantrip into Xantid, turn two play Xantid, he forces. I brainstorm into Empty the Warrens and play Petal, Petal, Rite, Ritual, Mox, Empty the Warrens for 18. He scoops.

8-3

Round Twelve: I’m not going to say his name with Merfolk
I don’t know about other people, but in Legacy I can sit down across from someone and I can usually tell what they’re playing based on how they’re dressed and their personality. My opponent looked like an asshole, he was playing Merfolk.

Game One: These are the cards I saw game one… Stifle, Daze, Spellpierce, Mental Misstep, Force of Will, Cursecatcher, Aether Vial, Island, Wasteland, and Lord of Atlantis. How he found room for all? No idea.

Game Two: It’s a long game with a lot of hand destruction, he eventually gets Platinum Angel in play. I can win through this, then he gets Iona the next turn. I lose.

8-5

Round Fourteen: Jesse Steele with Affinity

At this point I’m pretty bummed because I can’t even make top 64. I don’t really feel like playing, but I figured I might as well for rating points.

Game One: He leads with Memnite and an artifact land, plays other shit on his turn two. My turn two I Ad Nauseam drawing 23 cards. I ask him if I need to go through it, he says yes, I’m thinking, “This kid deserves this”, I start to storm up, he’s keeping track of mana and storm. Around 14 he says I have lethal storm, I say, “No, I don’t”, he responds with, “You’re going to Brainfreeze me aren’t you?!” and starts to count his deck for me, I continue to storm up to 22 or so, Burning Wish for Grapeshot. Grapeshot. That made me feel a little better.

Sideboarding: I don’t bother

Game Two: He gets a really fast start, I’m at 8 on turn 3. I go off casting Ad Nauseam because it’s all I can do. I stop at 4 and win. He reveals a Cannonist that he didn’t have the white for.

9-5

Round Fifteen: Nick Wilbur with Zoo

Nick explains to me that his last round he got a game loss game three and lost the round.

Game One: I keep a hand that’s amazing versus Merfolk, he’s not playing merfolk.

All in all it was a great time, I got a bunch of foils and hung out with a bunch of close friends. Went to the bars with the Virginians and made my second Day 2 of a Grand Prix. Thanks for reading my loser’s report.

Re: Storming to Day 2: A Loser's Report.

I don’t know about other people, but in Legacy I can sit down across from someone and I can usually tell what they’re playing based on how they’re dressed and their personality. My opponent looked like an asshole, he was playing Merfolk.

Nice report Bryant, and I'll try to take note of this next time I play any tourneys. Good advice.

Re: Storming to Day 2: A Loser's Report.

Originally Posted by Bryant Cook

I don't know about other people, but in Legacy I can sit down across from someone and I can usually tell what they're playing based on how they're dressed and their personality. My opponent looked like an asshole, he was playing Merfolk.

Ok, now you have to give us a primer on spotting decks based on player appearance/personality.

Re: Storming to Day 2: A Loser's Report.

I was talking to Chuck before your car showed up, commenting on how late you guys were since I wanted my seven playmats. But, thanks for bringing them for us! Also, congrats on the finish!

Did the Affinity kid deserve it because he was a prick, or because you didn't want to Tendrils him since he was so sweet and innocent?

-Matt

"I only drink whiskey older than my girlfriends. It's an expensive hobby at either end of the scale, no matter which way you work it. Do you go with an expensive lady, or a smooth drink? It's a real dilemma."

"I'm your Huckleberry."

"If it takes more than a day to decide, you'll never decide"

Apparently John Cox, LordofthePit, Einherjer, Mr. Safety, Imnotbrown, Treefolk Master, and Parax love what I have to say.

Re: Storming to Day 2: A Loser's Report.

Hi, I'm Alex the Zoo player you played against on Day 1. I have to apologize that you missed my humor in telling you I wanted you to mull to 3. I did not actually want that, as tough to believe as that may be. I would have rather had us play a real game. I merely made a dry joke about my mull in our first game. I did put the Choke on the table rather quickly but I felt that the play was rather key to the game and was surprised I was even given the opportunity to cast Choke in such an advantageous position when it played a key role in Game 2 as well. You failed to mention that I Red Elemental Blast'd your second Brainstorm in Game 3 to keep you from making up on your disadvantage in mulling to 6. It was a ballsy keep that did not work out, though probably would have if that Brainstorm resolves. I have to admit that I did not recognize your name and was not 100% on what deck you were playing until you revealed your hand at the end of Game 3. In hindsight, I sideboarded completely and utterly wrong and essentially stole a match from you. If it makes you feel better, I flamed out on Day 2 and failed to cash. Again, apologies on coming off as an asshole. I apparently have a knack for that but have been told that people come around once they get to know me.

Also, you spelled douchebag wrong. It must come from looking at all your foreign, foil cards all the time. Your deck was significantly more sexy than mine.

Re: Storming to Day 2: A Loser's Report.

Originally Posted by Bryant Cook

I don’t know about other people, but in Legacy I can sit down across from someone and I can usually tell what they’re playing based on how they’re dressed and their personality. My opponent looked like an asshole, he was playing Merfolk.

May I quote your amazing skill? :)

Sucks that you lost to douchebags talking shit. Good finish despite all the Merfolk.

If someone plays control like Landstill or Counterbalance, what kind of person are they? I assume people that play Burn are kids?

Re: Storming to Day 2: A Loser's Report.

What kind of deck does a person play if they wear a suit to the GP? (I did).

-Matt

"I only drink whiskey older than my girlfriends. It's an expensive hobby at either end of the scale, no matter which way you work it. Do you go with an expensive lady, or a smooth drink? It's a real dilemma."

"I'm your Huckleberry."

"If it takes more than a day to decide, you'll never decide"

Apparently John Cox, LordofthePit, Einherjer, Mr. Safety, Imnotbrown, Treefolk Master, and Parax love what I have to say.